Research Project Manager-hi ACT

Salary: £34,866 to £45,163 per annum (pro rata)

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 12 January 2025

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Research Project Manager to join the HI-ACT project. This is a £12.5m project on Hydrogen Integration for Accelerated Energy Transitions (HI-ACT)

An interest in energy issues is desirable. This project comprises 11 academic institutions, around 20 Co-Investigator academics, and more than 40 industrial partners. You will work alongside the Principal Investigator (PI) at the University of Birmingham, to devise the objectives, financial management and dissemination activities such as web sites, international conferences and events.

You will play a key role I the success of the project. In order to be successful, you should have experience of engagement and management of multiple stake holders, excellent communication and organisational skills, be a confident and supportive to line manager of a team of 3 who will be responsible for delivering administration, impact and engagement and communication and marketing to the project.

To act as a Research Project Manager for the HI-ACT. This is a £12.5m project on Hydrogen Integration for Accelerated Energy Transitions. An interest in energy issues is desirable. This project comprises 11 academic institutions, around 20 Co-Investigator academics, and more than 40 industrial partners.

The post holder will work alongside the Principal Investigator (PI) at the University of Birmingham, to devise the objectives, financial management and dissemination activities such as web sites, international conferences and events. The post holder will be responsible for the day- to-day management of the project, across the consortium. They will line manage three staff who deliver administration, impact and engagement, and communications and marketing support to the consortium. They will also liaise with professional support staff in other partner institutions.

This is a part time role of 22.2 hours per week. With a fixed end date of 31 May 2028.

For more information about this role Rachel Sparks # apply please upload your CV and covering statement evidencing how your experience fits the person criteria listed below.

Key Accountabilities

-Develop and sustain a strong project management for the project. This includes a complex and diverse range of activities facilitated across a number of internal and external organisations/partnerships. Stakeholders include academics, industry specialists and research participants. The postholder will assume responsibility for ensuring the project is sustained in line with the research vision and that they deliver against their objectives
-Manage the project on behalf of the PI, including monitoring and completion of project deliverables, including project plans, financial reports, and progress reports
-With the PI produce a project timetable to ensure key deliverables are met within deadlines set. Engage with all members of the project, from PhD students to senior academics, through collaborative methods such as workshops. Gain team buy-in and commitment to the that will guide the team over the course of the project
-Ensure accurate and effective financial management of project via thorough budget management. Work closely with partners and SAgE Management Accounts team to aid delivery of forecasts, budgets and financial reports within finance
-Establish, develop and maintain successful partnerships with funders and external stakeholders on behalf of the PI. To advise the Principal and Co- Investigators and project committees on procedures, finance and sponsor regulations
-Manage the day-to-day operation and future development of a range of existing and new engagement networks to deliver outstanding and exemplary activity in support of research, knowledge exchange and impact generation
-Develop and deliver promotional materials, including a website and other media which ensure messages and information are accurate and robust
-Deliver internal and external events and international conferences for the project including engaging and updating key stakeholders on the project activities
-Support the research team's ambition and vision to inform and influence policy and stakeholders, both nationally and internationally. Key to this role is engagement with policy experts and collaboration with a network of organisations from academia and industry
-Lead on the formation and management of the steering committees and working groups, to be formed of senior stakeholders from academia and industry. To compile and present administrative, management and financial information at review meetings. To take notes and distribute minutes of the meetings. To coordinate a diary of meetings. Ensure that the group's strategic focus is maintained, and improvement plans are in place going forward

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

-Substantial work experience in a relevant work environment
-Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team
-Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, including the ability to give presentations to senior internal and external partners
-Strong interpersonal skills including negotiating and relationship/partnership building
-Excellent organisational and time management skills; ability to manage a demanding workload, recognise priorities and work to deadlines
-Proven ability to work with a broad range of stakeholders and actively manage the relationships
-Evidence of project management and experience of financial budgetary management
-Proven ability to use initiative and to think strategically
-Excellent team development and people leadership skills, tact and diplomacy when dealing with sensitive and confidential information, and an ability to work well under pressure
Desirable

-Experience of line managing and developing staff

Attributes and Behaviour

Communicating

-Uses clear, concise and accurate communication, tailoring the approach accordingly and encouraging a two-way communication process
-Encourages and supports a free flow of communication and information across own area, and the wider University where appropriate
-Understands how best to appeal to the other person/group, correctly interpreting the right way to approach a situation
-Uses visual and verbal presentation to add impact
-Plans communication methods to add impact to messages

Influencing

-Persuades, convinces, and influences others in order to achieve results and gain support
-Explains how own proposals will support the interests of others (i.e. using win-win strategies)
-Has a keen sense of timing; seizes opportunities

Planning and Organising

-Manages time and resources by prioritising and organising effectively
-Sets own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives
-Plans workload and tasks in a systematic way
-Ensures that all activities are completed on time
-Uses systems and tools to ensure records and audit trails are clear and up to date
-Ensures that others know how process and systems work.
-Identifies quickly what is important and prioritises accordingly
-Maintains flexibility in work plans to allow for changing circumstances

Delivering Services

-Knows and understands customer/stakeholder needs
-Demonstrates high energy and commitment to the delivery of excellent services
-Co-operates with others in achieving targets
-Pays attention to details
-Takes responsibility for achieving own targets

Qualifications

-Degree or equivalent level qualification plus experience in a similar role

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Requisition ID: 27792

#LI-LF1

Substantial work experience in a relevant work environment
-Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team
-Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, including the ability to give presentations to senior internal and external partners
-Strong interpersonal skills including negotiating and relationship/partnership building
-Excellent organisational and time management skills; ability to manage a demanding workload, recognise priorities and work to deadlines
-Proven ability to work with a broad range of stakeholders and actively manage the relationships
-Evidence of project management and experience of financial budgetary management
-Proven ability to use initiative and to think strategically
-Excellent team development and people leadership skills, tact and diplomacy when dealing with sensitive and confidential information, and an ability to work well under pressure
Desirable

-Experience of line managing and developing staff

Attributes and Behaviour

Communicating

-Uses clear, concise and accurate communication, tailoring the approach accordingly and encouraging a two-way communication process
-Encourages and supports a free flow of communication and information across own area, and the wider University where appropriate
-Understands how best to appeal to the other person/group, correctly interpreting the right way to approach a situation
-Uses visual and verbal presentation to add impact
-Plans communication methods to add impact to messages

Influencing

-Persuades, convinces, and influences others in order to achieve results and gain support
-Explains how own proposals will support the interests of others (i.e. using win-win strategies)
-Has a keen sense of timing; seizes opportunities

Planning and Organising, Degree or equivalent level qualification plus experience in a similar role

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Salary: £34,866 to £45,163 per annum (pro rata)

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.